Pitless well unit



June 13, 1967 ANDREW 3,324,950

PITLESS WELL UNIT Filed June 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l MIG I INVENTOR.

June 123, 196'? H. ANDREW PITLESS WELL UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1965 v R w W4 i m 0 M FJEZ United States Patent "ce 3,324,950 PITLESS WELL UNIT Homer L. Andrew, Superior, Wis, assignor to Duplex Manufacturing Company, Superior, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,127 13 Claims. (Cl. 166-85) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A distributor head arrangement for a pitless well unit which unit includes a surface pipe attachable to the well casing below ground level and preferably below frost level which surface pipe is provided with a first lateral discharge member to discharge water to a remote location and which discharge member includes a sealing seat within the surface pipe arranged at an angle to vertical. A second member which carries the drop pipe is insertable into the surface pipe and has a reversely disposed sealing seat thereon for sealing against the discharge members sealing seat wherein the weight of the second member carrying the drop pipe will effectively provide the seal between the members and a sealed conduit will be established from the drop pipe, through the second member and into the discharge member This invention relates generally to well equipment and more particularly to a distributor head for use in a pitless well unit and the structure for positioning the head which distributor head is designed to receive water from the drop pipe to the pump and direct the same to a laterally disposed discharge pipe.

The use of pitless well units or what may also be termed underground discharge units for wells is known in the prior art. A pitless well unit generally comprises a surface pipe which extends into the ground with means contained therein below ground level for directing the fluid delivered from the pump and through the drop pipe to a laterally disposed discharge line. To provide for assembly and installation a separable connection must be made at this right angle turn and with the available single seal pitless units this connection is difficult to reach and requires working in a limited as well as blind area. It is also likewise diificult in these standardly available units to provide proper vertical hanging of the drop pipes so as to eliminate shearing stresses from unaligned suspension arrangements.

The pitless well unit as provided herein eliminates the blind alignment required to accomplish this fluid directive connection of prior systems in that a guiding surface for the fluid directing apparatus is provided within the surface pipe and the turning structure is further provided with a self aligning seal for connection to the lateral distribution portion of the unit thereby substantially eliminating seal alignment problems.

The pitless well unit as provided herein further provides a positive support structure for the drop pipe and pump connected thereto such that the drop pipe and pump will be substantially mounted on the same axis and mounted in substantially a vertical condition to prevent side shearing forces and which through this proper positive alignment will provide suificient room around the drop pipe along its entire length for the passage of electrical cables to the pump.

Another advantage obtainable through using a pitless unit of this type when used in conjunction with a high capacity submersible pump is that the guiding surfaces of the surface pipe will retain the fluid directing structure in its desired position holding the same against twist- 3,324,950 Patented June 13, 1967 ing torque of the pump to eliminate distortion and dislocation of the seal between the fluid directing unit and the lateral discharge pipe.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a pitless well unit which incorporates a surface pipe having guiding surfaces therein whereby the fluid directing or discharge section will be guided into proper position within the surface pipe to eliminate blind alignment with the other portions of the fluid distribution system.

It is another object of applicants invention to provide a pitless well unit wherein the fluid directing section or distributor head of the unit contained within the surface pipe of the unit is securely held against twisting caused by the torque of the pump attached to the head through the drop pipe.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a pitless well unit wherein guiding and alignment surfaces are provided on the individual members to insure axial and substantial vertical suspension of the drop pipe and pump supported thereby to eliminate shearing forces on the pipe.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a pitless well unit wherein the surface pipe is provided with a completely sealed cover structure for sealing the well and which cover structure is removable for exposing the electrical wire and connections necessarily carried in the surface pipe without requiring their initial removal or disconnecting.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a distributor head or fluid turning structure having a maximum of vertical support points thereon which points are arranged to be supported by the surface pipe unit and the well casing itself and which support points are further arranged to permit clearance and access to the well for the admission of electrical cables thereto or for inspection of the well itself such that no additional passages must be provided in the unit.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view through a ground section showing a typical installation of a pitless well unit;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating a pitless well unit embodying the concepts of applicants invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 particularly illustrating the sealing surface of the distributor head;

FIG. 5 is a portion of FIG. 2 drawn to an enlarged scale and particularly illustrating the sealing surface of the unit.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings the pitless well unit of this invention generally designated 10 includes a surface pipe unit designated 11 and a fluid distribution portion for directing fluid from a vertical to a horizontal line generally designated 12. Surface pipe 11 includes in the form shown a substantially rectangular longitudinal extending housing consisting of spaced parallely arranged sides 11a and spaced, parallely arranged ends 1lb11c. The right angular relation of the side and end members 11a11b11c is to provide a rectangular surface interiorly of the surface pipe 11 and the exterior configuration may be in any desirable shape.

A support plate 13 substantially closes the lower end of the surface pipe 11 and is securely fastened to the side and end members thereof. An aperture 13a is provided through such support plate 13 and is of a size substantially equal to the internal diameter of a well casing nipple 14 which is securely attached to plate 13 in axial alignment with aperture 13a). Aperture 13a is in the form shown arranged tangent to end 1111 of pipe 11 such that the axis of the aperture 13a and the passage through well casing nipple 14 is offset rearwardly with respect to the axis of the surface pipe unit 11.

As is commonly known and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the surface pipe unit 11 is mounted Within the ground with the upper portion thereof arranged above the ground to provide access to the interior thereof. In the form shown a removable cover section 16 is provided on the uppermost extending end of surface pipe 11 and in order to provide fastening and attachment means therefore a plurality of cars 11d are arranged on the sides lib-11c of pipe 11 and an outwardly extending lip 11c is arranged on the end 11a of the surface pipe 11. As shown in the figures the upper surface of lip lle is in substantially coplanar relation with the upper ends of the elements forming the surface pipe 11 such that a gasket 15 may extend completely therearound to receive and seal against.

Cover element 16 is provided with a goose neck structure 17 extending outwardly from one end thereof to be in overlying alignment with lip 11s to provide covered passage 17c thereunder. This passage in combination with an aperture 11 through lip 11a provides means for introducing electrical cables into the otherwise sealed unit. A vent opening 17a may be provided in the goose neck 17 and an inverted air vent 17b attached thereto.

As shown in the cross sectional views of FIGS. 2 and an aperture 19 is formed in end member 110 of surface pipe 11 in closely spaced relation to closure flange 13 and is arranged to overlie the frontmost section of plate 13 such that the opening 19 is adjacent the larger remaining support surface 13b of plate 13 which larger support surface results from the aperture 13a being offset with respect to the center of plate 13.

A discharge seat is arranged within opening 19 and in the form shown this seat consists of an arcuate member 21 arranged interiorly of the surface pipe 11 such that the lower arcuate edge 21a thereof is substantially resting on support portion 13b of plate 13, Side 2112 of seat 21 abuts with the interior surface pipe end 110 and is designed to conform to this interior surface and abut closely therewith as best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. A discharge pipe member 23 is threadably received into the surface abutting side 2111 of the seat 21 and extends outwardly therefrom through aperture 19 to provide a connective end for a discharge pipe D which may be attached thereto and directed to a remote discharge.

To facilitate manufacture and assembly the entire discharge seat member 20 including the extending nipple section 23 is fixedly attached as by welding or the like to side 11c.

The other side 22 of discharge seat 21 is as shown in FIGS. '3 and 5 offset with respect to vertical to provide a guiding and seating surface. This sealing surface 22 provides a particularly positioned seat which permits a member to be seated easily thereon by pushing the member downwardly onto the upwardly disposed seat.

To provide for flow of water through seat 20 a fluid conducting passage is formed through both the nipple section 23 and the seat 22.

A second removable member which is in effect a fluid directing member and which is termed hereinafter as a distributor head is designated 12 and includes a substantially cylindrical body portion 25 provided with an internal passage 25a extending at right angles therein such that it will provide a fluid turning directive to fluid flowing upwardly thereto to laterally discharge the same through seat 20.

One end 26 of the distributor head body 25 is reversely tapered with respect to the discharge seat 21 to provide a mating and sealing surface 26a when the distributor head 12 is inserted into the pipe 11 and against the discharge seat sealing surface 22. A seal housing such as O-ring groove 27 is formed circumferentially on seating surface 26a and an O-ring 27a or other sealing device is contained therein. This O-ring 27a construction is purely for portions of illustration and it should be obvious that other sealing devices could be easily arranged between the members 12 and 20. Distributor head seal taper serves also to protect the seal itself from abrasion as it is lowered into position against the discharge seat 20.

The other end 28 of the distributor head body 25 is provided with a pair of laterally extending ears 29--29 wherein the dimension across said cars is substantially equal to the distance between, the interior sides 11a of the surface pipe 11. A pair of threaded apertures 29a may be provided through said ears for receiving adjustment members such as cap screws 30 whose purpose will be explained hereinafter. A second pair of radially extending ears 31--31 are formed in forwardly spaced relation with respect to the ears 2929 and as shown in FIG. 3 the longitudinal spacing between such ears 29 and 31 will position the ear sets respectively outward from the edges of easing receiving aperture 13a.

As particularly illustrated again in FIGS. 3 and 4 the radially extending ears 29-31 have a substantially flat portion formed on the bottom thereof to permit the head 12 to be supported by and to rest on the plate 13. In this manner it is obvious that the entire weight of the distributor head 12 rests solidly on the plate 13 and prevents lateral shifting of the distributor head 12 within the surface pipe 11 the radially extending ear elements 29-31 extend laterally outward to be guided by and held by the internal surfaces of the sides 11a of surface pipe 11.

It should be obvious from the structure as thus far described that if the distributor head 12 is inserted vertically into the surface pipe 11 it will be guided downwardly therethrough by the internal guiding surfaces 11a abutting with the laterally extending ears 29-31 until the flat bottom portion of the ears rests upon the plate 13. These laterally extending ears then bring the sealing surfaces 26-22 into laterally aligned position.

To facilitate the insertion of distributor head 12 into the surface pipe 11 the overall longitudinal length of the distributor head is slightly less than the length between the seal surface 22 and the end 11b of surface pipe 11. In order to take up this additional length a shim plate 32 is provided and inserted between the rear end 28 of head 12 and the end 11b of surface pipe 11. When the shim plate 32 is in position, an additional shim 32a of required thickness is inserted between shim plate 32 and head 12. The cap screws 30 will secure the shim between the head 12 and shim plate 32. This provision means to compensate for construction variations in the inside dimension of the surface pipe. This predetermined setting will position head 12 against seat 20 with precise predetermined pressure at time of fabrication.

This adjustable preinstallation feature permits the insertion of the distributor head 12 into the surface pipe unit 11 without requiring precision fabrication in a welded surface pipe. The shim plate 32 further provides a flat guiding surface on head 12 that corresponds with the surface guiding surface on head 12 that corresponds with the surface pipe 11 for accurate guidance. This adjustable positioning with the forward projection of seal surface 22 at the top of distributor head 12 and with positive support against the surface of support plate 13, obviously permits installation of distributor head 12 into surface pipe 11 in guided relationship to said surface pipe without positioning and without damage to the yieldable seal 27a and without hooks and clamps to hold and maintain head 12 in positive communication with seat 20, head 12 being located in sealing position by the inherent confinement of the rectangular surface pipe configuration.

The body portion 25 of the distributor head 12 is as the like may be inserted into the well casing W and which likewise allows access to the well itself.

In order to bring fluid up to the distributor head 12 and particularly to the fluid passage 25a a passage 33 is formed in the downwardly disposed portion of cylinder' body 25. This passage 33 is provided to receive a connectable drop pipe P which will extend downwardly into the Well casing W and which will receive water from a submersible well unit at the lower end thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2 these well casing connections W and drop pipe sections P are coordinated with respect to the aperture 33 such that drop pipe P will extend substantially along the longitudinal axis of the well casing W. This central location and maintenance of this central location prevents any bending or side shearing effect on the drop pipe P as the drop pipe will not abut with the sides of the well casing W along its entire length and will hang in substantially the same vertical line as the casing W. A clearance area is then provided between the pipe P and casing W which permits a cable C to pass downwardly to the pump without fear of damage due to contact with the drop pipe P or casing W.

To facilitate lifting of the distributor head 12 and drop pipe P from the surface pipe 11 and also to facilitate insertion and assembly of the unit a lifting member such as hook 35 may be threadably inserted into a boss 36 arranged on the periphery of the cylindrical portion 25. This lifting device 35 is in the form shown and is ideally located longitudinal with respect to drop pipe receving aperture 33 and drop pipe P. This longitudinal alignment of course permits longitudinal insertion of the pipe P into the casing W.

The device as illustrated and as previously stated permits the distributor head 12 and the distributor seat 20 to be placed in proper relation while eliminating the usual requirement of fastening about the periphery of the sealing device. A number of various devices as known in the prior art have been employed around the periphery of the seal to provide means for connecting the separable sealing members, to hold them in register, to give them support and provide support for the drop pipe load and to guide them in blind location into operating position. Such devices are completely eliminated through this invention and one seal member moves into exact register with the other without repeated efforts to make the blind connection. This design further eliminates the need for searching for the blind connection while providing a seal compression effect due not only to the confined and spaced relation of the sealing members but also due to the weight effect of the drop pipe P exerting a downward force against the tapered sealing and seating surface.

The device as herein described further prevents rotation of the distributor head 12 which rotation would tend to separate the sealing faces and which rotation is produced due to the torque developed by the pump. Rather distriubtor head 12 being in contact with the guiding surfaces of the surface pipe 11 through the laterally extending ears 29-31 is prevented from such rotation. This retardation of rotation and positive mounting structure for a pitless well unit will permit this unit to be used with large capacity pumps and heavy drop pipe equipment.

It should be obvious that the device as described herein relates primarily to the directing of water received from the drop pipe of a well to a remote laterally directed discharge point. As such, some of the common fittings such as check valves, air bleeders and air supply valves provided in wells have not been illustrated. It should be understood however that these fittings would be included when this fluid directing device is installed in a well. Further with the device of this invention these fittings could be installed either within the seat or head portion or the drop pipe and when installed within the head 12 or drop pipe they would be removed with the head 12 and thus their replacement would be extremely simple.

As a provision for such additional fittings a threaded aperture 37 is provided within head 12 and this aperture 37 although shown closed by the removable plug 38 would permit attachment of a fluid or gas sensing device. In actual practice several such openings may be provided in the head 12.

Clearance passage 13c provided about the cylindrical body 25 in combination with the removable cap feature 16 provides a clear entrance to the well without disconnection of the electric cable wires. This construction provides access to the well which may be important for chlorination or testing of draw down of the water level in the well as well as the electrical advantage.

It should be obvious that applicant has provided a new and unique design for a pitless well unit which incor porates a positive support structure for a drop pipe and pump, a positive seal compressing structure which eliminates clamping about the periphery of the seal and a unit which is easily assembled and disassembled on location.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of the invention, which generally stated consists in the matter set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pitless well unit for use with a well casing and drop pipe including:

(a) a surface pipe arranged to have one end thereof connected with the upper end of a well casing;

(b) a discharge seat arranged within the lower end of said surface pipe and providing means for attachment to a lateral discharge pipe for discharge of fluid thereto, providing a sealing seat within said surface pipe said seat being angularly disposed with respect to vertical to receive a member thereagainst as inserted from the upper end of the surface pipe; and

(c) a fluid distributor head arranged to engage and receive fluid from the drop pipe to be received within said surface pipe and having a sealing surface thereon to engage the sealing surface of said discharge seat for sealing therewith to facilitate flow of fluid from the drop pipe to the lateral discharge pipe and having support means thereon for support of the drop pipe substantially in axial alignment with the well casing.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface pipe is provided with internal guiding surfaces arranged longitudinally therealong and said distributor head is provided with corresponding guiding surfaces thereon to permit said distributor head to be received within said surface pipe along said guiding surfaces to be guided onto said sealing seat of the discharge seat.

3. A pitless well unit for use with a well casing and drop pipe including:

(a) a longitudinally extending surface pipe arranged to have one end thereof attached to a well casing and having an aperture through said end corresponding to the diameter of said well casing;

(b) support means on the casing receiving end of said support surface pipe;

(c) a discharge seat receivable into said surface pipe adjacent the casing receiving end thereof providing a sealing seat arranged internally of said surface pipe and provided with means to receive a laterally extending discharge pipe thereon for the discharge of fluid to a remote location said sealing seat being offset to vertical to present a sealing surface disposed generally upward to receive an article thereon inserted from the upper end of the surface pipe; and

(d) a distributor head receivable into said surface pipe having a 'reversely disposed sealing surface thereon with respect to said discharge seat sealing surface, receivable thereagainst when inserted from the top of said surface pipe with support means to engage the support means on the lower end of said pipe and means to engage the pipe to receive fluid therefrom and direct the same to the discharge pipe through the distributor or seat.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said surface pipe is provided with a pair of parallel oppositely arranged guiding surfaces extending longitudinally therewithin and said distributor head is provided with a pair of parallel mating guiding surfaces to facilitate insertion of said distributor head into said surface pipe and to properly align said distributor head within said surface pipe and against said discharge seat sealing surface.

5. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein adjustment means are provided between said surface pipe and said distributor head to permit adjustment thereof into proper sealing position with respect to said discharge seat sealing surface.

6. A pitless well unit for use wit-h a well casing and drop pipe including:

(a) a surface pipe having one end thereof arranged to receive and be connected to a well casing and including:

(1) a pair of parallel, opposed guiding surfaces extending longitudinally therewithin; and

(2) a support plate at the lowermost end thereof which support plate is larger than the casing to which the surface pipe is attached in at least one dimension;

(b) a discharge seat arranged within said surface pipe on an internal side of the casing adjacent said parallel sides and at substantially right angles thereto including:

(1) means for connecting a laterally extending discharge conduit thereto for the distribution of fluid to a remote point; and a (2) a sealing surface within said pipe said surface being offset to vertical to present a sealing surface adapted to receive an article inserted longitudinally from the upper end of said pipe;

(c) a distributor head having a .pair of outwardly extending guiding surfaces on opposed sides thereof to engage the oppositely arranged guiding surfaces within said surface pipe to be guided longitudinally 3 therewithin to provide proper alignment of said head with respect to said well casing and said discharge seat sealing surface and including:

(1) a sealing surface disposed oppositely with respect to said discharge seat sealing surface to mate and seal therewith when inserted into said surface pipe; and

(2) means for attaching a drop pipe thereto to receive therefrom and direct the same into said discharge conduit.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein the dimension across a portion of said distributor head is less than the dimension between the parallelly opposed sides of said surface pipe to provide a passage therearound to provide access to the well casing.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and means provided between said distributor head and the interior of said surface pipe opposite the discharge seat to permit adjustment of said distributor head into engagement with said sealing surface of said discharge seat to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 and a compressible seal provided between the distributor head and discharge seal sealing surfaces.

10. The structure set forth in claim 6 and check valve means provided within said distributor head to permit the flow of fluid from the drop pipe into the discharge line disposed outside of the surface pipe but preventing backflow therethrough.

11. The structure set forth in claim 6 and at least one opening through said distributor head to permit the attachment of devices thereto to permit communication with the fluid flowing therethrough.

12. The structure set forth in claim 6 and said means for lifting and lowering said distributor into said surface plpe.

13. The structure set forth in claim 6 and means on said distributor to prevent said seal from rubbing on the wall of the surface pipe and discharge seat before proper positioning thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,689,611 9/1954 Martinson 166-88 2,918,972 12/1959 Tubbs l6675 2,946,385 7/1960 Dicken 166-88 2,960,166 11/1960 Haydin et al 166--88 3,050,124 8/1962 Ottenbacher 16688 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

J. A. LEPPINK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PITLESS WELL UNIT FOR USE WITH A WELL CASING AND DROP PIPE INCLUDING: (A) A SURFACE PIPE ARRANGED TO HAVE ONE END THEREOF CONNECTED WITH THE UPPER END OF A WELL CASING; (B) A DISCHARGE SEAT ARRANGED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF SAID SURFACE PIPE AND PROVIDING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A LATERAL DISCHARGE PIPE FOR DISCHARGE OF FLUID THERETO, PROVIDING A SEALING SEAT WITHIN SAID SURFACE PIPE SAID SEAT BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO VERTICAL TO RECEIVE A MEMBER THEREAGAINST AS INSERTED FROM THE UPPER END OF THE SURFACE PIPE; AND (C) A FLUID DISTRIBUTOR HEAD ARRANGED TO ENGAGE AND RECEIVE FLUID FROM THE DROP PIPE TO BE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SURFACE PIPE AND HAVING A SEALING SURFACE THEREON TO ENGAGE THE SEALING SURFACE OF SAID DISCHARGE SEAT FOR SEALING THEREWITH TO FACILITATE FLOW OF FLUID FROM THE DROP PIPE TO THE LATERAL DISCHARGE PIPE AND HAVING SUPPORT MEANS THEREON FOR SUPPORT OF THE DROP PIPE SUBSTANTIALLY IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE WELL CASING. 